Starmer: We're going to have to be unpopular. Popular decisions are not tough, they are easy

SIR Keir Starmer admitted his Government will be "unpopular" amid a furious backlash over his axing of winter fuel payments for most pensioners.

- Katie Harris

The Prime Minister sought to defend the controversial decision to restrict the allowance to only those on pension credit ahead of a crunch vote tomorrow.

In his first major interview since entering No10, he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "We're going to have to be unpopular. Tough decisions are tough decisions. Popular decisions aren't tough, they are easy.

"When we talk about tough decisions, I'm talking about tough decisions, the things the last Government ran away from, that governments traditionally run away from. I'm convinced that because they've run away from difficult decisions, we haven't got the change we need for the country." Sir Keir refused to say if Labour MPs will be stripped of the whip if they vote against cuts to winter fuel payments in the House of Commons. He said: "That will be a matter for the Chief Whip. We're going into a vote. I'm glad we're having a vote because I think it's very important for Parliament to speak on this.

"But every Labour MP was elected on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country over the time we've got in office.